Tire for vehicles.



No. 668,994. Patantad Feb. 26, I90l. .l. B. MAHANA &. A. A. POMPE.

TIRE FOR VEHICLES. (Application filed Sopt. 18, 19001) (No Model.)2.Shoat:-Sha0t l.

7 No. 668,994. r Patented Feb. 26, I901.

J. B. MAHANA &. A. A. POM-PE.

TIRE FOB VEHICLES.

(Application filed. Sept. 13, 1900.) (No Model. ,2 .$hoetlShoet 2.

rrnn SrA'rns ATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. MAHANA AND ADRIAN A. POMPE, OF TOLEDO, WASHINGTON.

TlRE FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 668,994, dated February26, 1901.

Application filed September 13, 1900. serial No. 29,948. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN B. MAHANA and ADRIAN A. POMPE, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Toledo, in the county of Lewis and State ofVVashingtomhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tiresfor Vehicles, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad to the aocom panying drawings, and to the numerals of referencemarked thereon.

Our invention relates more particularly to improvements in tires for thewheels of bicycles, light road-wagons, racing-sulkies, automobiles orother vehicles in which wheels having pneumatic tires are employed; andits object is to render the tire more useful and serviceable by adaptingit to be quickly, automatically, and effectively repaired in the eventof puncture.

In carrying out our invention we use, in connection with an outer tireof any ordinary or approved construction, a series of subdividing innertubes, each one independent of the others and adapted to be separatelyinfiated, each of said subdividing-tubes being provided with a nippleclosed with a cap, the ends of each of said subdividing-tubes beingconstructed in a manner hereinafter described, whereby they may belapped or fitted together, and provision being made for the properassemblage, disposition, and concealment of the nipples of the series oflapped tubes when in place within the outer tire. Each of saidsubdividing-tubes, which may be made of any thin inelastic or elasticsubstance, is intended when fully inflated or expanded to fill theentire inner cavity of the outer tire, so that should the outer one ofthe said series of inner subdividing-tubes become punctured by thepassage of a sharp substance through the outer tire into it said outersubdividing-tube on collapsing by the escape of air will allow theexpansion of the second or next adjacent subdividing-tube, thus causingthe outer portion of said expanded tube to press against the collapsedtube and reestablish the effect of the pneumatic pressure within thetire to the extent of sufficiently maintaining the solidity andeffectiveness of the tire. Thus the action of repair is practicallyautomatic so long as one of the said inner subdividing-tubes remainsintact, the pressure put upon each of said inner tubes being such thatany one of them alone when expanded so as to fill the inner cavity ofthe outer tire shall be enough to afford or preserve a working pressuresuiificient to prevent the disabling of the wheel. It will be seen thatthe collapsed inner tube after the exhaustion of air therefrom bypuncture acts as a reinforce to the thickness of the outer tire and thatin the event of the collapse of two of said inner subdividing-tubes adouble reinforce is obtained.

Having thus briefly described the object and nature of our invention,reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 isa perspective view of one of the inner subdividing-tubes not inflated.Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section of a segment of a wheelconstructed in accordance with our invention, showing the rim, the outertire, and series of three inner subdividing-tubes each inflated andprovided with a nipple. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of Fig. 2,showing each of the three subdividingtubes inflated, with sufficientloose material in each tube, the tubes being folded upon each other, togive each the diameter when fully expanded of the inner diameter of theouter tire. Fig. 4.- is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the outerone of the series of inner subdividing-tubes collapsed by puncture andthe expansion of the remaining tubes to a degree sufficient to fill thearea in cross-section of the outer tire, the said collapsed outersubdividing'tube being crowded between the inner wall of the outer tireand the outer portion or wall of the second inner subdi viding-tube, areinforce being thus effected, as before explained. Fig. 5 is a viewsimilar to Fig. l, but showing one of a series of innersubdividing-tubes made of elastic material. Fig. 6 is a view similar toFig. 2, but showing the use of three elastic inn ersubdividing-tubes.Fig. 7 is a transverse section through the outer tire and three innersubdividing elastic tubes, showing the equal inflation of each of saidtubes. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. '7, showing the outer one of theseries of inner elastic subdividingtubes collapsed by puncture and theexpansion of the remaining and elastic tubes to an extent sufficient tofill the entire inner crosssectional area of the outer tire, thecollapsed elastic tube forming a reinforce.

Similar numerals indicate similar parts in the several figures.

1 shows a section of the rim of the wheel of any ordinary or approvedconstruction or material.

2 is the outer tire, which also may be of known structure and of anymaterial adapted to the purpose. 3 3 3 show the inner subdividing-tubes,preferably made of this inelastic material, although they may beelastic, if desired. Each of the subdividing-tubes 3 is provided with avalved nipple 3 having a screw-cap 4. Each of the tubes 3, preferably atthe end to which its nipple is attached, is tapered or beveled, as shownat 5, while the opposite end of said tube is similarly but reverselytapered or beveled, as seen at 5, and providedwith a slot. 6. In Fig. 1the tube 3 is shown uninfiated, and it will be understood that when infiated its ends will assume equally with the rest of the tube more of arounded formation than that indicated in said figure, but that the endsof the tube by reason of their formation will overlap or fit together,substantially as seen in Fig. 2. The purpose of the slot 6 is to allowthe nipple 3 of one tube 3 to pass through the adjacent tube 3 and topermit the ends of the several tubes to be brought and fitted together,so as to produce an assemblage, as clearly seen in Fig. 2.

The several inner subdividing-tubes 3 having been each inflated, andthey occupying the assembled position seen in Fig. 2, and the nipples 3having been closed by the caps 4, the series of nipples are inclosed andconcealed by means of a box or sleeve 6 This is slipped into the hole orcavity 6 formed in the rim 1, the box or sleeve being held to the rim inany suitable manner. As here shown, a series of spring-hooks 7 areprovided, which engage angular projections 8, formed upon the box 6".Any other convenient mode of attachment may be employed.

Fig. 3 shows the three inner tubes each inflated to a substantiallyequal degree, while Fig. 4. shows the outer one of the innersubdividing-tubes collapsed and serving as a reinforce, Figs. 3 and 4also indicating the folding of the several tubes upon each other or asurplusage of material to provide for further expansion, it being enoughin the event of the puncture of two tubes to allow the remaining tubetofill the entire area of the outer tire. The pressure of air put uponeach of said inner tubes is siuh that any one of said tubes shall, inthe event of the puncture of the other two, be enough to cause the fullexpansion of the remaining tube, and thus preserve the integrity of thetire.

While it has been assumed that the repair of the wheel in the event ofpuncture is under our invention automatic, it is obvious that thereinflation of any one of the subdividing-tubes which may have collapsedby puncture may, on repair, in a manner at pres- While our inventionautomatically effects a repair sufficient to enable the wheel to performeflicient service, the rider may at his convenience repair and reinfiatethe punctu red tube, and thus restore normal pressure. A principaladvantage of our invention consists in the fact that the wheel cannot beentirely disabled as long as one of the inner subdividing-tubes remainsintact,there being at all times under such circumstances means withinthe tire2'. e., enough available pressuret0 prevent total collapse, andalthough one or even two of the inner subdividing-tubes may becomepunctured, yet the rider may go a long distance before stopping torepair and choose a convenient opportunity for doing so, there beingunder our invention no possibility of complete breakdown of the tirewhile one of the series of inner subdividing tubes remains unpunctu redand therefore capable of expansion to automatically restore to asufficient extent the integrity of the tire.

Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 show the adaptation of our invention to elasticinner subdividingtubes. It will be understood that the elastic materialof which each inner subdividingtube is made will be of sufficientthickness to allow of its expansion to substantially the full inner areaof the outer tire, and it will be seen that in the said figures athickness of tube is shown greater than in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, inwhich inelastic material is represented.

Our improvement is capable of various modifications in constructionwithout departing from the invention herein claimed. For instance, we donot limit ourselves to the number of inner subdividing-tubes employed orto the construction of the valved nipple or to that of the meansemployed for concealing the series of nipples.

Our invention does not contemplate the means for inserting the innersubdividingtubes to or removing them from the outer tire, any well-knownor approved means for such purposes being available.

Having described our invention, we claim 1. In a pneumatic tire, aninner tube therefor, having beveled ends, a valve-stem at one end, and aslot at the other, substantially as described.

2. In a pneumatic-tired wheel, the combination of a rim, an outertubular tire to which said rim is fitted, a series of innersubdividing-tubes, each one of which is, when inflated, substantiallyequal in area in cross-section to the inner cross-sectional diameter ofthe outer tire, each of said tubes having beveled and lapping ends, anipple at one of said ends and a slot at the other, the arrangement andassemblage being substantially as described for the purposes set forth.

3. In a pneumatic-tired Wheel, the combination of a rim, an outertubular tire to which said rim is fitted, a series of innersubdividing-tubes, each one of which is, when inflated, substantiallyequal in area in cross-section to the inner cross-sectional diameter ofthe outer tire, each of said tubes having beveled and lapping ends, anipple at one of said ends and a slot at the other, and a removable boxor sleeve for covering the ends of the nipples, the arrangement andassemblage being substantially as described and for the purposes setforth.

4:. In a pneumatic-tired wheel, the combination of a rim, an outertubular tire to which said rim is fitted, a series of innersubdividing-tubes, each one of which is, When inflated, substantiallyequal in area in cross-section to the innercross-sectional diameter ofthe outer tire, each of said tubes having beveled and lapping ends, anipple at one of said ends and a slot at the other, and a removable boxor sleeve for covering the ends of the nipples, projections 8 on thebox, and spring-hooks 7 on the rim, the arrangement and assemblage beinsubstantially as described and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals.

JOHN B. MAHANA. ADRIAN A. POMPE.

[L. s.] [L. s.]

